Town Notes
Published on April 4th, 2001
STONEHAM , MA -
Thanking Conti
Thanking a fellow board member for 25 years of public service, Selectmen gave Albert Conti a rocking chair engraved with the Stoneham seal at their March 27 meeting.
“Anyone entering public office should have the best interests of the town at heart,” Conti said in an interview following the March 27 meeting, his final session. He chose not to run for re-election this year after 12 years as a Selectman, seven years as Town Moderator and six years on the Planning Board.
He can now divide his time between his law practice and relaxing with his friends and family.
“I want to thank my wife Marie and my family because without their support I wouldn’t have been able to serve Stoneham as I did,” Conti said.
Conti also wanted to thank all the town officials and employees with whom he has worked through the years. And, of course, he also thanked the voters.
Looking back, Conti listed the Town Common as the greatest accomplishment under his tenure. The Senior Center, new police station, schools project and opening of Spot Pond for recreation were also on his list of most prized improvements.
Looking forward, Conti said, “I’m not going anywhere.” The Pine Ridge Road resident plans to become involved with the Stoneham Beautification Committee.
“My only regret,” Conti said, “is that more people don’t come to Town Meeting. That’s where we make our decisions.”
Selectmen gave Conti a rocking chair, a plaque and a photo of the current board, but citizens can bestow an even greater gift upon the retiring public servant — a big turnout at the May 7 Town Meeting.
MCAS Schedule
Next week public school children across the state face the first phase of the 2001 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Systems (MCAS).
The following list summarizes what grades will be taking what test sections on what dates in Stoneham.
Third-graders will take the reading test sometime between April 5 and 13.
Fourth-graders will take the English composition test on April 11, and English language arts, and math tests sometime between May 14 and 18.
Fifth-graders will take the science and technology / engineering test sometime between May 14 and 18.
Sixth-graders will take the math test sometime between May 14 and 18.
Seventh-graders will take the English composition test on April 11 and the English language arts test sometime between May 14 and 18.
Eighth-graders will take the English composition test on April 11; and the English language arts; math; science and technology / engineering; and history and social science tests all between May 14 and 18.
Ninth-graders do not take the MCAS this year.
Tenth-graders will take the English composition test on April 11; and the English language arts; math; and history and social science tests all between May 14 and 18.
Tenth graders must pass to graduate. If they fail, they have four more chances before the end of senior year. The results were in by October last year.
Gutierrez road blocks
Suits have been filed in Middlesex Superior Court by the cities of Melrose and Medford asking the court to halt work on the Woodland Road office park project that Stoneham approved in February.
The suits allege that the Gutierrez Company’s planned three six-story building office park will create dangerous levels of traffic in nearby neighborhoods of Melrose and Medford.
A Boston daily newspaper and other sources around town have said that this is part of an effort by these communities to get concessions from the developer.
Developer Arthur Gutierrez and Melrose Mayor Patrick Guerriero met Tuesday night to discuss possible solutions.
Census
According to the 2000 census, the population of Stoneham increased by only 16 people from 1990. The official population of the town is 22,219.
“I know we have at least 23,000,” said Town Clerk John Hanright. He cites the 250 building permits pulled over the last two years, including a new condominium complex.
As part of the annual state aid to Stoneham, the town gets $1,118 per person.
“We are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars because people aren’t filling out these forms,” said an exasperated Hanright.
Spelling Bee
The Roadbees of Lawndale, a team made up of residents of Lawndale Road, won the Sixth Annual Stoneham Spelling Bee on March 30.
Winning team members were Ira Krakow, Ann Thibodeau, Kris Toomey and Marilyn Wild.
The event was a success, raising around $5,000 for the Stoneham Business and Community Educational Foundation, an organization dedicated to enriching the school experience of Stoneham youth.
Street sweeping alert!
Public Works Director Bob Grover asked residents to sweep their sidewalks into the street and keep cars off the roads for the next few weeks as the public works street sweeping crew works its way across Stoneham from south to north.
Also, roadwork will snarl Montvale Avenue as the DPW installs a new water main in the coming weeks.
“Now that spring is here and weather no longer inconveniences the drivers, the DPW will,” Grover joked. “But the roads will remain open.”
Flood relief
Representative Paul Casey’s office has informed Stoneham officials that money from the federal government will be available to some Stoneham homeowners who suffered costly damages from the late March flooding.
Further details about qualifications for flood relief and where to go to get it are coming soon, according to a Casey aide.
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